As far as momentum goes, it's hard to tell which team will carry more of it into the Smith Center today when North Carolina's men's basketball team faces No. 12 Maryland.
UNC wowed a screaming, sellout crowd with a last-minute upset of then-No. 6 Connecticut on Saturday.
But before that game, the Terps handed then-No. 1 Duke its first loss of the season in a "Welcome to the Comcast Center" party the Blue Devils probably would have preferred to miss.
However, stacked against each other, the Terps clearly hold more cards.
Maryland jumped five spots to No. 12 in the country this week while the Tar Heels scrounged up only six votes. And last year, the Terps happily took advantage of North Carolina's worst season ever, beating the Tar Heels twice by an average of more than 20 points.
Granted, UNC surpassed last year's win total by Jan. 8, but the Tar Heels have yet to face a tandem in the paint quite like Maryland's Tahj Holden and Ryan Randle. North Carolina's severe lack of depth in the paint could result in a Terrapin domination reminiscent of last season.
The more intriguing matchup will be Raymond Felton and Steve Blake. Felton is third in the ACC in assists, behind Blake and Duke's Chris Duhon. Matching up against one of the top point guards in the country will be Felton's biggest challenge thus far -- and possibly his greatest chance to shine.
McCants Earns Rookie of the Week
Rashad McCants, who averaged 23.5 points and 5 rebounds in a pair of Tar Heel victories last week, including a 68-65 win over then-No.6 Connecticut on Saturday, has been tabbed as the ACC Rookie of the Week.
